Multi-touch method for resistive touch panel

ABSTRACT

When operating a resistive touch panel, a first command is issued by touching the touch panel using a finger. When the finger remains in contact with the touch panel, a second command is issued by touching the touch panel using a stylus. Therefore, a corresponding gesture operation can be executed in multi-touch applications after identifying the first and second commands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a multi-touch method for resistivetouch panel, and more particularly, to a multi-touch method forresistive touch panel using a finger and a stylus as input devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices with thin appearance have graduallyreplaced traditional bulky cathode ray tube (CRT) displays and beenwidely used in various electronic products. There are various types oftouch panels, such as resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic orinfrared. Among those, resistive touch panels detect voltage variationscaused by tactile inputs. Due to low manufacturing costs, resistivetouch panels are the most widespread technique and commonly used inconsumer products such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellularphones, personal GPS devices, electronic dictionaries or householdelectronic products.

Normally, a mechanical device (such as a stylus) or a part of human body(such as a finger) are the input device when manipulating a resistivetouch panel. Referring to FIG. 1, which is a diagram illustrating aprior art single-touch method. In the method depicted in FIG. 1, astylus is used for issuing commands on the resistive touch panel. Thepointed design of the stylus results in a small contact point on thetouch panel, and the user can move the stylus easily and swiftly. Theprior art method depicted in FIG. 1 provides highly accurate tactileinputs, but can only execute a limited amount of gesture operations.

Referring to FIG. 2, which is a diagram illustrating a prior artmulti-touch method. In the method depicted in FIG. 2, a human finger isused for issuing commands on a resistive touch panel so as to providemulti-touch function. The finger results in a larger contact point onthe touch panel than a stylus, which makes the manipulation less swift.Therefore, although the prior art method depicted in FIG. 2 can executemore gesture operations, but is disadvantageous in sluggish manipulationand less accurate tactile inputs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a multi-touch method comprising issuing afirst command by touching a touch panel using a first input device;issuing a second command by touching the touch panel using a secondinput device while the first input device is in contact with the touchpanel; and identifying the first and second commands for executing acorresponding gesture operation.

The present invention further provides a multi-touch method comprisingissuing a first command by touching a touch panel using a firstmechanical device; issuing a second command by touching the touch panelusing a second mechanical device; and identifying the first and secondcommands for executing a corresponding gesture operation.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a prior art single-touch method.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a prior art multi-touch method.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a multi-touch method according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a multi-touch method according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5a-9a are diagrams illustrating the first embodiment of thepresent invention when performing a first type gesture operation.

FIGS. 5b-9b are diagrams illustrating the second embodiment of thepresent invention when performing the first type gesture operation.

FIGS. 10a-12a are diagrams illustrating the first embodiment of thepresent invention when performing a second type gesture operation.

FIGS. 10b-12b are diagrams illustrating the second embodiment of thepresent invention when performing the second type gesture operation.

FIGS. 13a and 13b are diagrams illustrating the second embodiment of thepresent invention when performing a third type gesture operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating amulti-touch method according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a multi-touch methodaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. In thepresent invention, two input devices I1 and I2 are used for issuingcommands on a resistive touch panel so as to provide multi-touchfunction. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the firstinput device I1 is a finger and the second input device I2 is a stylus(as depicted on the left of FIG. 3), wherein the contact point of thefinger has a larger area than that of the stylus when in contact withthe touch panel (as depicted on the right of FIG. 3). In the secondembodiment of the present invention, both the first and second inputdevices I1 and I2 are styli (as depicted on the left of FIG. 4), whereinthe contact points of the two styli have the same area when in contactwith the touch panel (as depicted on the right of FIG. 4).

Referring to FIGS. 5a-9a and 5b-9b , wherein FIGS. 5a-9a are diagramsillustrating the first embodiment of the present invention whenperforming a first type gesture operation, and FIGS. 5b-9b are diagramsillustrating the second embodiment of the present invention whenperforming the first type gesture operation. For the first and secondembodiments of the present invention to perform the first type gestureoperation, a first command is issued to the touch panel using the firstinput device via a first contact point, and then a second command isissued to the touch panel using the second input device via a pluralityof second contact points. In other words, the first command is a staticcommand (such as selection or positioning), while the second command isa dynamic command (such as dragging or inputting data). By identifyingthe relationship between the first contact point and the second contactpoints, the corresponding first type gesture operation can be correctlyexecuted.

For example, in the application depicted in FIGS. 5a and 5 b, the firstinput device is used for selecting a target object shown on the touchpanel (illustrated by the dotted line in FIGS. 5a and 5b ), and thesecond input device is used for selecting an end of the target object.The target object can thus be re-sized by moving the second inputdevice. In this embodiment, the first command corresponds to staticpositioning, the second command corresponds to dynamic dragging (thedirection of dragging is illustrated by the arrows in FIGS. 5a and 5b ),and the first type gesture operation is related to enlarging orshrinking.

In the application depicted in FIGS. 6a and 6b , the first input deviceis used for selecting a target object shown on the touchpanel(illustrated by the dotted line in FIGS. 6a and 6b ), and thesecond input device is used for selecting an end of the target object.The orientation of the target object can thus be adjusted by moving thesecond input device. In this embodiment, the first command correspondsto static positioning, the second command corresponds to dynamicclockwise/counterclockwise rotating (the direction of rotation isillustrated by the arrows in FIGS. 6a and 6b ), and the first typegesture operation is related to rotation.

In the application depicted in FIG. 7, the first input device is usedfor selecting a target object shown on the touch panel, and the secondinput device can be moved for shaping the object, such as cutting acorner out of a square target object. Similarly, in the applicationdepicted in FIG. 7b , the first input device is used for controlling afirst object shown on the touch panel (such as the fork in FIG. 7b ) inorder to select an end of the target object. Next, the second inputdevice is used for controlling a second object shown on the touch panel(such as the knife in FIG. 7b ). The shape of the target object can thusbe changed by moving the second input device, such as cutting a cornerout of a square target object. In this embodiment, the first commandcorresponds to static selection, the second command corresponds todynamic dragging (the direction of dragging is illustrated by the arrowsin FIGS. 7a and 7b ), and the first type gesture operation is related toshaping.

In the application depicted in FIGS. 8a and 8b , the first input deviceis used for selecting a start point, and the second input device is usedfor defining a specific range, thereby selecting all objects shownwithin this specific range on the touch panel. In this embodiment, thefirst command corresponds to static positioning, the second commandcorresponds to dynamic circling (the circled specific range isillustrated by the dotted line in FIGS. 8a and 8b ), and the first typegesture operation is related to object selection.

In the application depicted in FIGS. 9a and 9b , the first input deviceis used for selecting a target object shown on the touch panel, and thesecond input device is used for inputting words or patterns on thetarget object. In this embodiment, the first command corresponds tostatic selection, the second command corresponds to dynamic inputting,and the first type gesture operation is related to data input.

Referring to FIGS. 10a-12a and 10b-12b , wherein FIGS. 10a-12a arediagrams illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention whenperforming a second type gesture operation, and FIGS. 10b-12b arediagrams illustrating the second embodiment of the present inventionwhen performing the second type gesture operation. For the first andsecond embodiments of the present invention to perform the second typegesture operation, a first command and a second command aresimultaneously issued to the touch panel using the first input devicevia a plurality of first contact points and the second input device viaa plurality of second contact points. In other words, the first andsecond commands are both dynamic commands (such as dragging or inputtingdata). By identifying the relationship between the first contact pointsand the second contact points, the corresponding second type gestureoperation can be correctly executed.

For example, in the application depicted in FIGS. 10a and 10 b, thefirst input device is used for selecting an end of a target object shownon the touch panel (the target object is illustrated by the dotted linein FIGS. 10a and 10b ), and the second input device is used forselecting another end of the target object. The target object can thusbe re-sized by moving the first and second input devices simultaneously.In this embodiment, the first and second commands both correspond todynamic dragging (the direction of dragging is illustrated by the arrowsin FIGS. 10a and 10b ), and the second type gesture operation is relatedto enlarging or shrinking.

In the application depicted in FIGS. 11a and 11b , the first inputdevice is used for selecting an end of a target object shown on thetouch panel (the target object is illustrated by the dotted line inFIGS. 11a and 11b ), and the second input device is used for selectinganother end of the target object. The orientation of the target objectcan thus be adjusted by moving the first and second input devicessimultaneously. In this embodiment, the first and second commands bothcorrespond to dynamic clockwise/counterclockwise rotating (the directionof rotation is illustrated by the arrows in FIGS. 11a and 11b ), and thesecond type gesture operation is related to rotation.

In the application depicted in FIGS. 12a and 12b , the second inputdevice is used for writing words on the touch panel. Meanwhile, thefirst input device is used for deleting the words directly (as depictedin FIG. 12a ) or using a specific object (as depicted in FIG. 12b ). Inthis embodiment, the first command corresponds to dynamic deleting, thesecond command corresponds to dynamic inputting, and the second typegesture operation is related to data input/deletion.

Referring to FIGS. 13a-13a , which are diagrams illustrating the secondembodiment of the present invention when performing a third type gestureoperation. For the second embodiment of the present invention to performthe third type gesture operation, a first command and a second commandare alternatively issued to the touch panel using the first input devicevia a plurality of first contact points and the second input device viaa plurality of second contact points, respectively. In other words, thefirst and second commands are both dynamic commands (such as multipletap, quick tap or slow tap). By identifying the relationship between thefirst contact points and the second contact points, the correspondingthird type gesture operation can be correctly executed.

For example, the application depicted in FIG. 13a is for manipulating anon-screen keyboard, in which the first and second input devices are usedfor inputting words. In this embodiment, the first and second commandsboth correspond to dynamic tapping and the third type gesture operationis related to data input. The application depicted in FIG. 13b is forplaying a drum game, in which the first and second input devices areused for manipulating the drum sticks and controlling the volume of thedrums with different tapping strength. In this embodiment, the first andsecond commands both correspond to dynamic tapping and the third typegesture operation is related to the number of taps, tapping speed ortapping strength.

In the present invention, a stylus which can be manipulated swiftly anda finger capable of performing various gesture operations are used asinput devices of a resistive touch panel. Therefore, a wide variety ofgesture operations can be accurately executed for providing multi-touchfunction. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5a-13a and 5b-13b are forexplanatory purposes and do not limit the scope of the presentinvention.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-touch method comprising: issuing a firstcommand by touching a touch panel using a first input device; issuing asecond command by touching the touch panel using a second input devicewhile the first input device is in contact with the touch panel; andidentifying the first and second commands for executing a correspondinggesture operation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gestureoperation is associated with motions, taps, selections or data inputs.3. The method of claim 2, wherein the motions include sliding, deleting,rotating, shaping, enlarging or shrinking.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein the taps include multiple tap, quick tap or slow tap.
 5. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the selections include selecting a specificregion on the touch panel or selecting an object shown on the touchpanel.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture operationcomprises: selecting an object shown on the touch panel according to thefirst command; and enlarging or shrinking the object according to thesecond command.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture operationcomprises: selecting an object shown on the touch panel according to thefirst command; and rotating the object according to the second command.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture operation comprises:selecting an object shown on the touch panel according to the firstcommand; and shaping the object according to the second command.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the gesture operation comprises: moving anobject shown on the touch panel according to the first and secondcommands.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture operationcomprises: selecting all objects shown within a specific region on thetouch panel according to the first and second commands.
 11. The methodof claim 1, wherein the gesture operation comprises: selecting an objectshown on the touch panel according to the first command; and inputting amessage on the object according to the second command.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the gesture operation comprises: inputting a message onthe touch panel according to the second command; and deleting themessage shown on the touch panel according to the first command.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the gesture operation comprises: selecting anobject shown on the touch panel according to the first command; andselecting a content of the object according to the second command. 14.The method of claim 1, wherein the first command is issued by touching afirst contact point on the touch panel using the first input device, andthe second command is issued by touching a second contact point on thetouch panel using the second input device.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the first contact point has a larger area than the secondcontact point.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first command isissued by touching a plurality of first contact points on the touchpanel using the first input device, and the second command is issued bytouching a plurality of second contact points on the touch panel usingthe second input device.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein each firstcontact point has a larger area than each second contact point.
 18. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first input device is a finger, and thesecond input device is a stylus.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second input device are styli.
 20. The method of claim 1,wherein the touch panel is a resistive touch panel.
 21. A multi-touchmethod comprising: issuing a first command by touching a touch panelusing a first mechanical device; issuing a second command by touchingthe touch panel using a second mechanical device; and identifying thefirst and second commands for executing a corresponding gestureoperation.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the gesture operation isassociated with motions, taps, selections or data inputs.
 23. The methodof claim 22, wherein the motions include sliding, deleting, rotating,shaping, enlarging or shrinking.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein thetaps include multiple tap, quick tap or slow tap.
 25. The method ofclaim 22, wherein the selections include selecting a specific region onthe touch panel or selecting an object shown on the touch panel.
 26. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the gesture operation comprises: selectingan object shown on the touch panel according to the first command; andenlarging or shrinking the object according to the second command. 27.The method of claim 21, wherein the gesture operation comprises:selecting an object shown on the touch panel according to the firstcommand; and rotating the object according to the second command. 28.The method of claim 21, wherein the gesture operation comprises:selecting an object shown on the touch panel according to the firstcommand; and shaping the object according to the second command.
 29. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the gesture operation comprises: moving anobject shown on the touch panel according to the first and secondcommands.
 30. The method of claim 21, wherein the gesture operationcomprises: selecting all objects shown within a specific region on thetouch panel according to the first and second commands.
 31. The methodof claim 21, wherein the gesture operation comprises: selecting anobject shown on the touch panel according to the first command; andinputting a message on the object according to the second command. 32.The method of claim 21, wherein the first command is issued by touchinga first contact point on the touch panel using the first mechanicaldevice, and the second command is issued by touching a second contactpoint on the touch panel using the second mechanical device.
 33. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the first and second mechanical devices arestyli.
 34. The method of claim 21, wherein the touch panel is aresistive touch panel.